Stealth Monitoring in the Office: More Transparency & Billable Hours (Example Scenario)

An SMB with 15 office seats adds monitoring software to better understand productivity and utilisation. With model numbers, an implementation plan and clear notes on the legal framework (not legal advice).

“In the office, you see everything.”

In reality, that’s rarely true. Between meetings, emails and coffee breaks, it’s hard to tell how much of the workday is truly productive – and how much is lost to distractions, social media or private chats.

This article looks at an example scenario: An IT provider helps an SMB with 15 office desktops by deploying monitoring software such as Wolfeye. In a sample internal analysis, the company estimates that billable hours could increase by around 25%, because time wasters become visible and processes can be improved.

Important: These figures are model numbers from a case-style example, not a promise of specific results. And: Whether and how stealth or screen monitoring in the office is legally permitted (employee information, consent, works council, internal policies, etc.) depends entirely on applicable labour and data protection laws.

Foto: Pexels (CC0) – Büroalltag / Office-Umgebung (Symbolbild)

The Problem: Office Productivity Is Often Just a Guess

Many reports and surveys indicate that a significant share of office time goes into distractions: social media, private chats, online shopping, extended breaks. In open-plan offices, it may feel like everything is “under control”, but spreadsheets, time tracking tools and quick glances over the shoulder only show a fragment of reality.

For IT providers, the question becomes: “How can I help my SMB clients see office productivity and utilisation based on data instead of gut feeling?”

The Solution: Discreet Screen Monitoring as an Additional Data Layer

Wolfeye is monitoring software that can be configured to run in the background without interrupting day-to-day work. At short intervals (depending on configuration), screenshots are taken and updated on the server.

In the default mode, only the current screenshot is kept; each new image overwrites the previous one. As long as screenshot history is disabled, this does not create a permanent screenshot archive.

Optionally, you can enable a screenshot history, which stores images at defined intervals. Details on intervals, storage location, access rights and retention periods should be documented in your privacy policy and internal policies.

Technically, Wolfeye can be run in a way that does not stand out in everyday office use. Whether employees must be informed about this, and in what form, is purely a legal question and depends on local regulations.

Example: SMB with 15 Office Seats – Measuring Utilisation Instead of Guessing

An IT provider supports an SMB with 15 Windows office PCs. Management suspects that utilisation is “not ideal”, but lacks hard data.

After clarifying legal requirements (e.g. with the data protection officer and, where applicable, works council), Wolfeye is installed on the office PCs. Over a limited period (for example two weeks), screen data is collected according to the agreed rules.

In a sample evaluation, the provider sees that:
– a noticeable share of time goes to social media, video platforms and private communication,
– long idle periods appear between productive tasks,
– and some employees are clearly more heavily loaded than others.

Instead of immediately punishing individuals, the IT provider uses the insights to help the SMB:

• define focus times and clear internet rules,
• adjust processes (ticket distribution, scheduling),
• and identify training needs.

In a model calculation, the company estimates that billable hours could increase by about 25% if the findings are implemented consistently. This number is an example – real-world results can be much higher or lower.

Example: Top 5 Office Time Wasters (15 PCs, 1 Week – Model Values)

Activity	Time/Week (Example)	Estimated Cost/Month*
Social Media (private)	48 hrs	approx. $1,200*
YouTube & Streaming	34 hrs	approx. $850*
Private Emails & Chats	22 hrs	approx. $550*
Online Shopping	12 hrs	approx. $300*
Games & Downloads	8 hrs	approx. $200*

* vereinfachte Beispielrechnung auf Basis angenommener Stundensätze

Before vs. After (Example, Not a Guarantee)

Note: The following percentages are model numbers from an example scenario.

Before (example): estimated around 68% productive time, 80+ hours of obvious distraction per week, limited transparency.
After (example): productivity ratio closer to around 85–90%, significantly less distraction, noticeably more billable hours and a clearer view of performance.

Why Discreet Office Monitoring Can Be So Powerful

When employees feel they are “watched every second”, they often react with resistance or only short-lived changes. Many real-world stories show that heavy-handed, highly visible monitoring creates mistrust and delivers little long-term value.

A well-framed, discreet monitoring approach – with clear rules, documented purposes and transparent communication – can instead:

• provide realistic data over longer periods,
• support fair discussions about performance and workload,
• and enable IT providers to offer data-driven optimisation services.

In the example scenario, the IT provider can offer additional billable services around monitoring, reporting and optimisation. Many providers purchase Wolfeye licences on subscription and pass them on with a reasonable markup – including setup and ongoing support.

Foto: Pexels (CC0) – Monitoring-Dashboard (Symbolbild)

Your 14-Day Implementation Plan for IT Providers (Example, Not Legal Advice)

• Day 1–2: Clarify with the SMB whether and under which conditions monitoring is legally permissible (data protection officer, lawyer, works council). Install Wolfeye on selected office PCs (about 5 minutes per PC).
• Day 3–10: Collect data within the agreed rules. Focus on patterns rather than naming individuals in public.
• Day 11: Prepare a first analysis: top time wasters, a rough productivity score, noticeable utilisation patterns.
• Day 12: Present findings to management and propose concrete measures (focus times, process optimisation, training).
• Day 13: Implement focus blocks, adjust internet policy and communicate the rules clearly within the organisation.
• Day 14: Package the monitoring setup and reporting as a recurring service (e.g. monthly reports, licence management) – a basis for additional billable hours.

Conclusion: Office Monitoring as an Opportunity – If the Framework Is Right

A large part of time waste happens in the office – even when “everyone is on site”. With monitoring software like Wolfeye, you as an IT provider can help SMB clients look at office productivity, utilisation and obvious time wasters based on real screen data – always assuming the deployment is legally sound and well communicated.

The percentages and cost figures in this article are example values from model scenarios. How much productivity and billable hours actually change depends on the starting point, company culture and which measures are derived from the data.

If you want to find out whether office screen monitoring makes sense for you and your clients, a 14-day pilot on selected workstations can be a low-risk first step.

Note: This article describes example scenarios and model calculations. Actual developments in client environments may differ significantly. Wolfeye is monitoring software. Its use is subject to applicable labour and data protection laws. We do not provide legal advice – please review the rules in each country or consult a qualified lawyer.